Estonia to Ban All Russian LNG Imports from Next Year
Estonia has decided to completely ban Russian gas imports starting next year, emphasizing its desire to strengthen energy independence and support international sanctions against the aggressor.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to Postimees.
Estonia's decision covers both traditional natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG), which were previously allowed to be purchased, provided that it did not enter the distribution network. Once it comes into force, the ban will also apply to such supplies.
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stressed that this decision is aimed at making the war more expensive for Russia.
“We will continue to raise the price of aggression for Russia and look for ways to reduce the revenues that Russia uses to fuel its military machine,” he said.
Tsahkna also noted that due to Belarus' support for Russia's actions, similar restrictions will also apply to Belarusian exports.
Neighboring countries are already taking similar steps – Finland, Latvia, and Lithuania have restricted imports of Russian LNG through various mechanisms, including legislative bans and border closures.
This is happening amid the pan-European RePowerEU strategy, which envisages a gradual shift away from Russian gas and oil and a reduction in energy dependence on the aggressor country.
The European Union has set 2027 as the deadline for all member states to completely phase out Russian energy, including oil, gas, LNG, and nuclear materials.
The phase-out will happen in stages: bans on new and short-term contracts by the end of 2025, followed by termination of long-term contracts by 2027. Each country must submit a national plan detailing how it will remove Russian energy from its mix.
Earlier this year, ten EU countries — including the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Sweden — issued a joint statement calling for a full ban on Russian gas and LNG, citing its role in funding Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Read more on The Gaze: Russian Energy Weapon: Lessons from Gas Crises for Europe.